Hydroelectric plant on the Lualaba River, north of Kolwezi, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"The Lualaba River is the headstream of the Congo River. The Lualaba is 1800km long, running from near Musofi in the vicinity of Lubumbashi in Katanga Province. The Lualaba River's source is on the Katanga Plateau; it then descends to the Manika Plateau, with waterfalls and rapids marking the descent. As it drops to the Kamalondo Trough (457m in 72km), it is harnessed for hydroelectric power at Nzilo Dam near Nzilo Falls, to the north of Kolwezi. At Bukama the river becomes navigable for about 640km. Below Kongola, the river becomes unnavigable as it enters a narrow gorge, Portes d'Enfer. Between Kasongo and Kibombo, the river is navigable for about 100km, before rapids make it unnavigable again at Kindu-Port-Empain. The river's end is marked by the Boyoma Falls, made up of seven cataracts over a stretch of 100km between Ubundu and Kisangani." This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.